Police have arrested six youths aged between 14 and 17 years old for suspected involvement in a series of school break-ins and snatch thefts committed in Yishun Estate.

On 17 April 2010 at about 2.00 am , Police responded to a case of alarm activated at a Primary School located along Yishun St 21. Police resources responded promptly and the officers managed to spot three suspects inside the school premises who were in the process of prying open a vending machine. The suspects fled upon seeing the Police but the officers gave chase and managed to detain two of the suspects before they could escape. The third suspect did not escape justice for long. He was apprehended at Block 745 Woodlands Circle on the same day at 2.05 pm through follow up investigations. With the 3 suspects in custody, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division continued with investigative probes and established that they were involved in other cases of break-ins and had 3 more accomplices. Armed with this information, the quick thinking officers sprung into action and arrested the 3 other suspects in the vicinity of Northpoint Shopping Centre and Yishun Ring Road within the hour.

Investigations revealed that the 6 suspects are believed to be involved in a series of school break-ins in the Yishun Estate. In these cases, they had stolen drinks and stationery and vandalised the school properties amounting to about $10,000/-. The said group is also believed to have committed at least two other cases of snatch theft involving victims aged 26 and 61 years old. The said victims had suffered loss of their hand phones and personal valuables worth about $600/-.

All six suspects will be charged in Court on 19 April 2010 for Housebreaking and Theft by Night with common intention under Section 457 read with Section 34 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224. If convicted, they will face a jail term of up to 14 years.

Commander of Ang Mo Kio Police Division, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police Hsu Sin Yun, commended his officers for their good investigative skills and prompt action in solving the case.